Meeting tracey devine

I recently caught up with Tracey Devine, HJ's 2012 Men's Hairdresser of the Year, and owner of Angels, Aberdeen. here's what she had to say.

No, I spent the first six months cutting men's hair, but my apprenticeship was in a local unisex salon. I learnt both classic barbering and clipper work. It was the 1980s and I was delighted to be involved in such an exciting era for men's hair. The Smiths was massive at the time and I became an expert at doing flat-tops. After this, I went on to train in women's hair.

After winning Scottish Hairdresser of the Year for the third time and entering the Hall of Fame, I decided to go back to my roots and do a men's collection - but do it differently. I wanted to make people look at men's hairdressing in a different way.

In the same way I approach women's hair. I don't think about the sex, I think about hair type, face shape and bone structure. Some people don't understand this approach, they think I don't understand about barbering, but put me in a room with a pair of clippers and I can compete with any barber. I want to make men look fashionable.

Around 35% of our clients are men. It's quite a feminine-looking salon, but when men come in and get an amazing hair cut they come back, and they bring their friends.

They are becoming increasing trusting, so there is more opportunity to persuade them to try something different, but they don't tend to be overly adventurous - they don't want to walk down the street looking too 'session-like'.

This is what I forecast for men's hair over the next two to three years. Although there had been a lull in men's hair looks, the last five years have seen an injection of interest due to events like London Collection: Men which have helped focus attention on men's fashion and hair.